Appeal of centre's MBA is both local and global

00:59, 27 Jan 2011

Updated 20:45, 25 Jun 2013

ByThe Journal

AS the job market gets more and more competitive, MBA graduates are finding they stand out from the crowd.

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AS the job market gets more and more competitive, MBA graduates are finding they stand out from the crowd. But where would you look for an MBA - across the world, or on your doorstep? We meet two very different Newcastle University Business School students.

With times hard and jobs scarce, it’s important that you stand out. That’s what management education can do for you. But education should also be about the experience: broadening your horizons, working on projects and meeting people from different backgrounds.

The Newcastle University Business School MBA is well respected, nationally and internationally. It is double accredited, progressive and innovative, with robust academic underpinnings.

But an international experience? If you were looking for an international experience, surely Newcastle would be the last place you’d try?

Dr Julie Hodges, new director of MBA programmes at Newcastle University Business School, was attracted to the role because of the School’s international leanings. “One of the key differentiations with the MBA is that we develop leaders not just to critically understand theoretical concepts and frameworks, but how to apply them within global contexts,” she says.

“For example, students carried out international consultancy projects with Thomson Reuters in New York. Regionally, they critically assessed the strategic marketing opportunities of companies such as Fentiman’s.”

Newcastle University Business School has students from 70 countries, but also receives applications from people from the area. Many do the part-time Executive MBA, and so don’t even have to leave their jobs while they study.

Two MBA students, with very different backgrounds, to tell their stories...

From near: Paul Douglas. Paul is originally from Newcastle. Having completed his first degree in engineering, Paul has over 12 years work experience.

“I heard about the course through an advertisement in the Economist, and wanted to learn more about management,” he says. “Studying in my home town was a definite advantage and the main reason why I choose to study at Newcastle University Business School.”

After many years working in the engineering industry, Paul decided to take an MBA to help fast track him to a managerial position.

“I think studying once you have a bit of life experience behind you is a great idea. I wanted to complete a general admin masters to provide me with enough theory and knowledge to move to management without having to spend many years training, and this course will allow me to do that.”

From far: Javier Patricio Guterrez Cicala. Peruvian national Javier, 24, worked on the US-Mexico border for a public health organisation.

“I wanted a career change,” says Javier. “I felt I was too young to be pigeon-holed in public health and perhaps wanted to look at running my own business at some stage. The MBA course in Newcastle had modules that were particularly focused on developing those entrepreneurial and business management skills. But, initially, what caught my eye on the internet was the excellent ranking of the business school.”

But Newcastle had other advantages for Javier. He says: “I have also been a Newcastle United FC fan for the last 10 years and I am really looking forward to going to a few games at St James’ Park.”